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The Library of Congress Celebrates the Songs of America - Library of Congress
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): 1800s (48), 1900s (36), 20th century (50), poetry (219), songs (53)
In the Classroom
This site is a goldmine for finding music to accompany any American history unit! Use resources from the site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Play music from the period you are studying during reading or research time. Allow students to explore the site on their own, and then share their findings with classmates. Have students create timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Hstry, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Youth Radio - National Science Foundation
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): digital storytelling (155), journalism (54), media literacy (65), podcasts (57), radio (25)
In the Classroom
Share student-created podcasts found on Youth Radio for use as a model during digital storytelling lessons. Take advantage of the free lessons offered on the site for use in your classroom. Share a link on your class website for students to explore and find podcasts that interest them. After listening to these student podcasts, have cooperative learning groups create podcasts of their own. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here. Before creating their own podcast, have students create a storyboard using a tool like Amazon Storybuilder, reviewed here. They will also need to develop a script and practice. Try using Penflip, reviewed here, for students to write collaboratively. This tool allows groups of three or more to write together with complete version control.Comments
This is one of the best sites on the web for engaging teens in the world around them. The "Teacher Resources" are phenomenal.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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301 Prompts for Argumentative/Persuasive writing - New York Times
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): news (262), persuasive writing (57), writing (365), writing prompts (93)
In the Classroom
English/writing, social studies, and current events teachers are sure to find something here for their students to write about. Introduce a few of the prompts and the winning student editorials using an interactive whiteboard or projector to get students interested. Have students define what concise means and what it should mean in their writing. Point out the good writing habits of the student winners. Students should read the NYT's article(s) that give information about the topic of the prompt(s). At this time, you could have students choose a topic, or you could select several from which students could choose. You could also use one prompt a day as an opener or closer quick write. Another idea would be to have students respond on a class blog to the prompts and then make comments on each other's opinions. Haven't started blogging yet? Check out TeachersFirst's Blog Basics.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kid World Citizen - Becky Morales
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): back to school (62), chinese new year (3), christmas (55), cross cultural understanding (123), earth day (105), hanukkah (14), holidays (142), italy (15), mexico (33), ramadan (9), thanksgiving (33)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use throughout the year when teaching about countries, holidays, and for cross-cultural literature resources. Choose a country to explore each month using resources found on the site. Learn about your students' backgrounds to find countries and regions to explore using activities on the site. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast your culture with that of a different country.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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America's Heritage: A History of Immigration - immigrationcouncil
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): immigrants (22), immigration (60), timelines (59)
In the Classroom
Share this timeline on your interactive whiteboard as an introduction to your unit on immigration. You could show the history of immigration and discuss the U.S. as a nation of immigrants. Use a tool such as Socratic Smackdown, reviewed here, for students to debate about this topic, or any hot topic. It is interesting to note that there are many more events for the most recent twenty-five years than there are for all the previous years. Use this as a starting point for students to research and find additional information to add. Have students create their own timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Capzles, reviewed here.Comments
This is a comprehensive, yet kid-friendly, overview of US immigration policy in an interactive timeline. It ends with an Executive Order in November 2014. I hope the Heritage foundation continues to update this resource.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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TPS Teachers Network - Metropolitan State University of Denver
Grades
K to 12tag(s): bookmarks (68), primary sources (93), professional development (164), social networking (112)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save TPS Teachers Network as an excellent professional development and social networking site. Share with your colleagues to create your own professional learning network on the site. Create albums with primary sources for use throughout the year in one easy to find location.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching World War I With The New York Times - New York Times/ Michael Gonchar
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): europe (74), middle east (37), world war 1 (55)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plan for use in your World War I unit. Use this site to differentiate activities for students. Be sure to "mine" the links within the site for additional resources to add to your current lesson plans. Have students create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about a president, soldier, or family member during the time of World War I.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ZenPen - Tim Holman
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): editing (72), process writing (48), proofreading (25), writing (365)
In the Classroom
Use this simple tool with an interactive whiteboard or projector to demonstrate different writing techniques without any distractions. Create and save student writing projects such as short stories, poems, and reports. Create study guides before tests or directions for assignments. Have students write a progressive story where they each add a portion.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Radio Rookies - WNYC Public Radio
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): adolescence (12), behavior (46), emotions (36), radio (25), social skills (21)
In the Classroom
Be sure to include this site on your class webpage for students to access both in and outside of class as a resource for hearing how peers handle difficult teenage issues. Share a link with parents as a resource for them to use with their teen. Remind parents to PREVIEW! Be sure to share with your school's counselor as an excellent tool for use when working with students. Listen to episodes together with your class, and then have cooperative learning groups create podcasts discussing specific issues found in your school or classroom. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here. Before beginning the podcast, have students create a storyboard using a tool like Amazon Storybuilder, reviewed here. They will also need to develop a script and practice. Try using Penflip, reviewed here, for students to write the script collaboratively. This tool allows groups of three or more to write together with complete version control.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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radionomy - Radionomy Group
Grades
K to 12tag(s): digital storytelling (155), journalism (54), podcasts (57), radio (25)
In the Classroom
Enjoy making a live radio show from your classroom! Publish written pieces of writing, science reports, social studies reports, and any other reports you would like to share. Create a new book review podcast for the media center. Link to your podcast URL on your class website, and publish directions to projects, explanations of difficult concepts, or even a radio show with you reading your favorite books for your students. Have upper elementary students take turns reading aloud for a podcast aimed at little reading buddies in kindergarten. Allow students to podcast to "pen pals" in faraway places. Record your school choir, orchestra group, poetry club, or drama club doing their best work or dramatic readings of Shakespeare soliloquies. Take your school newspaper to a new level with recorded radio articles. Be sure to include interviews with students, teachers, principals, parents, authors, artists, and almost anyone. In younger grades, use to save an audio portfolio of reading fluency, expression, or as an aid for running records. Do this regularly throughout the year to analyze growth. Have fun at Halloween with your Halloween station filled with favorite spooky stories, or during the December holidays with stories from different cultures. Welcome your students to a new school year by sending them your message. Create messages for classmates who move away. Bring your world language classes an extra resource of your pronunciations whenever they need more practice. ESL/ELL and special education classes can often benefit from the additional explanations, practice, and elaborated instructions given at their own pace. The possibilities are endless!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wizer.me - Wizerme L.S (2015) Ltd.
Grades
K to 12tag(s): gamification (87), multimedia (62), worksheets (63)
In the Classroom
Wizer.me would be an excellent tool to use to implement and/or integrate technology into lessons. Look through worksheets others have created to get an idea of what you can do. The possibilities for using this tool in the classroom are limited only by your imagination! Having students view videos or label images is sure to keep them engaged and interested in your subject. Any subject area teacher will find a use for this tool, and it's free! Use worksheets (lessons) you have created in learning centers, with small groups (the possibilities for differentiating abounds), or as homework. Since these "worksheets" can include video, using wizer.me would be a terrific tool to use to "flip" your classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hip Hughes History - Keith Hughes
Grades
8 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): china (63), classroom management (159), constitution (88), elections (73), foreign policy (16), politics (97), presidents (123), russia (35)
In the Classroom
Show videos on an interactive whiteboard or projector to your class as an introduction to a new unit or class discussion. Flip your lesson and assign videos for students to view at home or in the computer lab and discuss questions at the next class meeting. Prep for this by asking questions during the video using Comment Bubble, reviewed here. Use the videos as a springboard for engaging writing prompts or to spark a discussion connected with a unit of study. Have students create a simple infographic with information learned from videos using Easel.ly, reviewed here. Be sure to check out some of the classroom management tips and advice for new teachers for some fresh ideas to use in your classroom!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mr. Beat's Social Studies Channel - Matt Beat
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): alaska (23), elections (73), explorers (65), gettysburg address (18), lincoln (84), presidents (123), primary sources (93), washington (29)
In the Classroom
Share these videos on an interactive whiteboard or projector. FLIP your classroom and have students view the videos at home to discuss and apply the next day in class (this is an excellent option if your school blocks YouTube). Use the videos to introduce any topic and assign others from the series for homework. Be sure to provide this link on your class website for students (and their families) to access at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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My Storybook - myStorybook.com
Grades
1 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): digital storytelling (155), writing (365)
In the Classroom
Show students creation possibilities by viewing a few of the books from the library using a projector or interactive whiteboard. Create a class book to begin. Start with a storyboard. If you usually do this with pen and paper, try using an online tool such as Amazon Storybuilder, reviewed here. Using a storyboard and My Storybook is an effective way to teach students about story elements, dialogue, character development, and more. World language classes can label images, or tell a story in the language they are learning. Work together to complete biographies of famous people. Challenge students to tell the story of different famous events in history or explain their understanding of cell division using My Storybook. Art students can create a story around their artwork. Autistic or emotional support teachers can create stories demonstrating interpersonal behavior skills. Digital storytelling is an amazing way for students to internalize any subject or concept. It also is an excellent assessment tool.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
Comments
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turnitin - Source Educational Evaluation Rubric (SEER) - turnitin
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): evaluating sources (16), media literacy (65), rubrics (32)
In the Classroom
Share this rubric with middle and high school students with your projector or on an interactive whiteboard. Ask students to suggest a popular site for referencing in papers and projects. Use the rubric together and evaluate the site. Break students into small groups and have them evaluate several sites. Make these sites you have already evaluated, and then have the students evaluate them until you know most students agree on what makes a Highly Creditable site compared to a Creditable or Discreditable site. At the end of the activity give a quick assessment. This way students who do not feel sure about evaluating a site have the opportunity to let you know. Consider using Quiz Socket, reviewed here, for a quick assessment or Quizalize, reviewed here, for a more in-depth assessment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Global Flow of People - Nikola Sander, Guy J. Abel, and Ramon Bauer
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): continents (51), countries (81), cross cultural understanding (123), migration (58)
In the Classroom
Share The Global Flow of People with a projector or on an interactive whiteboard as part of any global studies unit. After finding the numbers of people migrating, have students brainstorm or collect ideas for the reasons of migration on a collaborative bulletin board like Scrumblr, reviewed here, quick start- no membership required. Challenge students to explore further and share their findings with a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What has the United Nations ever done for you? - The Guardian
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): cross cultural understanding (123), cultures (109), united nations (7)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Allow students to explore on their own. Social studies teachers will want to bookmark this interactive for use throughout the year as students learn about different countries and cultures. Have students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Easel.ly, reviewed here, to explain what they learned from this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vibby - Ari Cohen and Ivo Sluganovic
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): video (278)
In the Classroom
Use Vibby as part of your flipped classroom. Have students watch a YouTube video at home and highlight different portions with questions and observations. Use Vibby in any subject! Ask ESL/ELL and resource students to write text to explain concepts by rewording, or to ask questions about the parts they do not understand. Identify examples of foreshadowing in dramatic videos. Add questions to math explanations. Identify landforms with videos from different locations. Use the embed code to add annotated videos to your class website or blog. Share this site as a way to review before tests. Have media literacy students use the annotation feature to critique videos for bias, poor writing, weak information, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Boomerang for Gmail - Bavdin
Grades
1 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): organizational skills (128)
In the Classroom
Let Boomerrang simplify your email life. Start the beginning of school with welcoming emails to each student/family. Schedule emails with newsletters, timely events, or parent conference reminders in exactly the right time! Design unit newsletters to coincide with your lessons time periods. Schedule birthday wishes or even schedule emails to remind yourself of an important event. You will never forget to collect all responses or assignments with a reminder email. Manage daily or weekly parent reports with ease and timeliness. Share at Meet the Teacher Nights or Curriculum Chats to help parents improve organizational skills for their student.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Free Digital Photos - Wagging Dog Media Limited
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative commons (23), images (278), photography (157)
In the Classroom
Use this site to search for photos for presentations, projects, or research. Take advantage of this opportunity to discuss proper use and sharing of online images and information. For ESL/ELL students or speech/language, use the images for them to create their own visual dictionary. World language teachers can also challenge students to use images to illustrate vocabulary or accompany writing. Use images for writing prompts or even to create descriptive sentences. Have one student describe the image as another sketches the image. Now compare the described image to the real image. Challenge students to create a multimedia presentation about class content using these images and UtellStory, reviewed here. UtellStory allows narrating and adding text to a picture.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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